Gate construction



June 17, 1941. A. v. ROWE GATECONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 7, 1939 Patented June 17, 1941 GATE CONSTRUCTION Alvin v. Rowe, Galesburg, nr, assignor to Rowe Manufacturing Company, Galesburg, 111., a cor poration of Illinois Application November 7, 1939, Serial No. 303,257 7 6 Claims. (01. 256-43) apertures are provided in the upper gate rail or This invention relates generally to gate structures, and more particularly to gate structures of the type having a metallic frame for supporting a plurality of pickets.

In instances where gates are to be subjected to excessive strains and stresses, it is desirable to employ a metallicframe for the gate. The use of metallic frames has in many instances increased the cost of the gate over conventional wooden constructions, and has in many installations introduced a design which does not lend itself in environments where the gate is to harmonize with the associated fence design. Thus, for example, to my knowledge, it has not been common practice to use iron gates in association with a wooden picket fence. It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a gate structure whereina metallic frame may be employed, which is not only very economical but which is so designed as to render it usable in association with wooden fence structures, as, for example, in association with the above mentioned conventional wooden picket fence.

More specifically, the present invention contemplates a gate structure, as referred to above, wherein the frame is comprised of four rigidly connected channel iron sections and a plurality of pickets vertically secured within said frame,

Another object of the invention is to provide a gate structure, as set forthabove, wherein each side of the gate is equally attractive and neat in appearance, thereby enabling either side of the gate to face outwardly.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a gate structure wherein a continuous strip of channel iron stock provides a rigid frame, and relatively lightweight material, such as wire, horizontally traverses the gate and cooperates to secure upright picket members in proper vertical position.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following detail description, wherein- Figure 1 is an elevational view of a gate structure contemplated by the present invention, said gate structure being shown in association with gate posts indicated by dotted lines;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the upper gate rail or frame section and the upper portion of the pickets associated therewith in the vicinity of bracket 2 of Figure 1, one of the pickets being broken away to more clearly illustrate the manner in which picket receiving hinge members are secured within their companion upright frame section of the gate;

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view taken substantially in the vicinity indicated by brackets 4 of Figure l to more clearly illustrate the man- I her in which opposite extremities of the horizontal wires are positioned Within upright sections of the gate frame;

Figure 5 discloses the manner in which a single strip of channel iron stock is first notched so as to enable subsequent bending in the vicinity of these notches to provide corners of the gate frame; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view shown partly in section of the upper righthand corner of the gate frame shown in Figure 1, to more clearly illustrate the manner in which inclined edges of the frame stock are brought into abutting relation by bending the web of the stock in the vicinity of the notches shown in Figure 5.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the various figures, it will be seen that my invention contemplates a gate structure which I have designated generally by the numeral Iii (Figure 1). This gate structure includes a metallic frame designated generally by the numeral l2, which is composed of 4 connected sections, namely, an upper horizontal section M; a vertical section [6, hereinafter referred to as the free side of the gate; a lower horizontal section l8; and an upright or vertical section 20, hereinafter referred to as the hinged side of the gate.

I This frame structure i2 preferably comprises metallic channeled stock, a cross-section of which presents a central web, portion 22 (Figures 2, 4, and 6) and flange portions 24. In the disclosed embodiment, the four sectionsoi the frame 12 are forme d from a single strip of stock, as illustrated in Figure 5. The flanges 24 are cut away at 26, as shown in Figure 5, leaving the web portions 22'intact. The web of the'stock in the vicinity of the notches 26 is then bent so as to bring companion edges defining said notches into abutting relation, as shown in Figure 6. 'The unsevered web portion in the vicinity of these abutting edges provides a firm junction and eliminates the necessity of employing any auxiliary means of a bolt 35, or other suitable fastening 7 means. I construction to the hinge member 28, is secured within the gate frame by means of a bolt 360. (Figure 1). These hinge members 28 and 28a cooperate with hinge pins 38 carried by lag screws 40 in hingedly positioning the gate l0 upon an upright gate post 42.

In order to prevent the gate I0 from sagging, a suitable cross-strut or bar 44 is employed, which extends from the bolt 36a at the upper hinged side of the gate frame to a bolt 46 on the lowermost frame section 18 in the vicinity of the free side of the gate.

Attention is now directed to the manner in which pickets 48 are vertically secured within the frame I2. The lower extremities of these pickets 48 are lodged within the channel of the lower frame section l8, and the upper extremities of the pickets extend through companion apertures 50 (Figure 2) provided along the web portion 22 of the upper horizontal frame section I 4. The flange portions 24 in both the upper and lower horizontal frame sections snugly receive the pickets 4B, and thus contribute toward therigidity of the gate structure as a whole. Additional bolts 46a, 46b, and 360 are provided, which extend through flange portions of the frame and through companion pickets, thereby rendering the gate frame and associated parts more rigidly secured together as a whole. Also bolts 45d and 466 extend through the strut or bar 44 at points intermediate the bolts 36a and 48 and also extend through companion pickets.

With the view of further securing the pickets 48 in their proper upright position, I employ double strand wire sections 52, these strands being twisted at A intermediate adjacent pickets, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2. Each picket extends through separated strand portions located between each twisted portion of the wire section 52. The opposite extremities of each wire section 52 are lodged within the channel of the upright frame sections I6 and 20, as illustrated in Figure 4.

At the upper free side of the gate I0 is a suitable spring latch member 54. The lower extremity of this latch member 54 extends through the web 22 of the upright frame section It and is secured within said frame section by a suitable bolt 55. The upper extremity of the latch member 54 is bent inwardly and is free to reciprocate within a companion aperture provided within the frame section I6; In order to free the latch '54 from a companion latch element or lug 58 on a gate post 60, it is only necessary tourge the latch member 54' inwardly a sufficient distance to free it from engagement with the lug 58.

From the foregoing it will be understood that my invention contemplates a gate structure of improved practical design, which is extremely economical to manufacture and is unusually strong. It will be noted that the constituent elements of the gate structure are relatively few An upper hinge member 280., similarin in number, and it will also be apparent that the simplicity in structural design materially contributes toward its attractiveness. Metallic gates in many instances are anything but attractive in appearance, particlarly when associated with a wooden fence, but, by reason of the simplicity in design of the metallic gate frame disclosed herein, said frame'will not in any way detract from the appearance of the fence with which it is to be associated. For example, the beauty of a wooden picket fence is not impaired, but, in fact, is enhanced by the use of the structure disclosed and claimed herein. Also, the gate may be mounted upon either gate post without changing or reversingthe location of the apertured hinge members on the frame.

Attention is also directed to the fact that by employing wooden picket members instead of metallic picket members, the total weight of the gate is materially reduced. This obviously lessens the tendency for th gate to sag, and subjects the gate hinges to a load which is considerably less than gates of the all metal type. Ilhus, in addition to preserving the attractiveness of a conventional wooden gate, and at the same time increasing the rigidity by the use of the above described metallic frame of circuitous form, a gate of moderate weight is presented.

templates 'a circuitous frame structure made up of a' plurality of frame sections which are firmly secured together so as to present the required rigidity.

The invention is by no means limited to the specific structural features disclosed herein, said disclosure being merely illustrative of one practical embodiment of the invention, and hence this invention should only be limited by the scopeof the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A gate construction including a metallic frame formed of a channel section having its side flanges notched at spaced points and bent to provide circuitous form having an open inner face, integral atthe corners and including side, bottom and top sections, the upper section having its base flange apertured at longitudinally spaced points, a plurality of wooden pickets disposed in spaced relation and having their upper portions complementarily extending through said apertures, the lower portions of said pickets being spaced and being received between the upwardly extending side flanges of the lower channel portion and a plurality of elongated twisted members extending laterally and engaging said pickets for holding said pickets in said spaced relation, the end pickets being spaced from said side channels and said elongated members extending therefrom and being freely lodged within the inwardly facing side channels for maintaining said pickets in predetermined relationship within the frame.

2. A gate construction as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said side channels has a hinge member extending laterally therefrom, said hinge member including a lug projecting through an aperture in the base flange of said channel fl'a'nges of said channel.

3. A gate construction as defined in claim 1 wherein said gate includes a plurality of clamping means extending through side flanges of said channels and through certain of said pickets only for clamping said pickets to the channels.

4. A gate construction including a metallic frame formed of a channel section including side, bottom and top portions arranged in circuitous form and rigidly connected at the corners, the open face of each channel portion being disposed on the inner side of the frame and facing inwardly, the upper portion having its base flange apertured at longitudinally spaced points, a plurality of upstanding wooden pickets extending through said apertures in spaced relation, the lower portions of said pickets being spaced and being seated between the upwardly extending side flanges of the lower channel portion, and a plurality of elongated members extending laterally and engaging said pickets in spaced relation for holding said pickets in said spaced relation, said elongated members extending laterally from the end pickets and being freely lodged within the inwardly facing side channels for maintaining said pickets in spaced predetermined relationship within the frame.

5. A gate construction including a metallic frame formed of a channel section including side, bottom and top portions arranged in circuitous form and rigidily connected at the corners, the

open face of each channel portion being disposed on the inner side of the frame and facing inwardly, the upper portion having its base flange apertured at longitudinally spaced points, a plurality of upstanding wooden pickets extending through said apertures in spaced relation, the

lower portions of said pickets being spaced and being seated between the upwardly extending side flanges of the lower channel portion, and a plurality of wires extending laterally and embracing each of said pickets, said wires being twisted together between said pickets for holding said pickets in said spaced relation, said wires extending laterally from the end pickets and being freely lodged Within the inwardly facing side channels for maintaining said pickets in spaced predetermined relationship within the frame.

6. A gate construction including a metallic frame formed of a channel section having its side flanges notched at spaced points and bent to provide a circuitous form having an open inner face and including side, bottom and top portions integral at the corners, the upper section having its base flange apertured at longitudinally spaced points, a plurality of wooden pickets having substantially parallel vertically extending side margins disposed in spaced relation and having their upper portions extending through said apertures, the lower portions of said pickets being spaced and seated between the upwardly extending side flanges of the lower channel portion, and paired elongated members extending laterally across all of said pickets, said members being twisted together between said pickets and each picket extending through separated strand portions located between spaced twisted portions for holding the pickets in spaced relation, the elongated twisted members extending laterally outwardly from the end pickets and being freely lodged within inwardly facing side channel portions for laterally locating the pickets within the frame.

ALVIN V. ROWE. 

